Automatic switch for vent fans in bathrooms

ABSTRACT

An automatic switch including a switch housing having a pair of stationary electrical terminals and an electrical conductor for connecting the terminals to a vent fan; a rod received within the housing for vertical movement, a float on the bottom of the rod, and a switch element on top of the rod for automatic engagement and disengagement with the switch terminals as the float falls and rises; an elongated bracket fixed to the top of the switch housing and having flat end portions for resting on the top edges of the opposed walls of a flush tank to suspend the float in operative engagement with the changing water level within the flush tank.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Marvin Odell Baker 4010 Plantation Drive, l-lermltage, Tenn. 37076 [2]] Appl. No. 881,069 [22] Filed Dec. 1, 1969 [45] Patented Jan. 4, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR VENT FANS IN BATHROOMS 5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 200/84 R, 4/213 [51] Int. Cl ..H01h 35/18 [50] Field of Search 200/84, 84.3, 84.2; 4/213 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,220,934 3/1917 Chapman 200/84 R 2,772,331 11/1956 Carothers 4/213 2,973,415 2/1961 Bryan ZOO/84 FOREIGN PATENTS 5 85,643 12/1924 France 200/ 84 917,933 3/1963 Great Britain 4/213 Primary Examiner-David Smith, Jr. Attorney-Harrington A. Lackey ABSTRACT: An automatic switch including a switch housing having a pair of stationary electrical terminals and an electrical conductor for connecting the terminals to a vent fan; a rod received within the housing for vertical movement, a float on the bottom of the rod, and a switch element on top of the rod for automatic engagement and disengagement with the switch terminals as the float falls and rises; an elongated bracket fixed to the top of the switch housing and having flat end portions for resting on the top edges of the opposed walls of a flush tank to suspend the float in operative engagement with the changing water level within the flush tank.

27 :IIIIIIIIITIS PATENTED JAN 4 m2 INVENTOR! I Maw/v @544 B44552 W I A ORNEY AUTOMATIC SWITCH FOR VENT FANS IN BATHROOMS BACKGROUND OF THE mvarmou SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The automatic vent fan switch made in accordance with this invention includes an insulated switch housing having a switch chamber and a hole extending vertically through the switch housing communicating with the switch chamber and opening through the bottom of the housing. An elongated rod in the form of a hollow tube is received through the hole for free vertical reciprocal movement. A float is fixed to the bottom end of the rod. A switch element, in the fonn of an electrically conductive disk, is fixed to the top end of the rod and is adapted to engage a pair of switch terminals within the switch chamber in a lower position, and adapted to disengage the terminals in a raised position. The terminals are connected through an electrical conductor to a conventional vent fan.

Fixed to the top of the switch housing is a substantially horizontal, elongated bracket adapted to span the width of the flush tank of a toilet. The bracket has flat end portions adapted to rest upon the tops of the opposed walls of the flush tank, for suspending the switch housing within the toilet tank so that the float operatively engages the rising and falling water level within the flush tank to open and close the switch.

The rod is preferably in the form of a tube having its bottom end closed, and its top end closed by an electrically insulated plastic insert, so that the rod is hollow, and therefore buoyant as well as lightweight. The plastic insert insulates the conductive disk from the tube wall, which is normally an electrically conductive metal. A gasket is also fixed between the top of the switch housing and the bracket, which is also normally metal, in order to insulate the bracket from the switch element, as well as to close the upper end of the switch chamber.

This invention will be located in the flush tank. When the water level falls in the tank, the float will be lowered, the automatic switch will close the electrical circuit, and fan will start running. When the water in the flush tank rises, the float will also rise to open the automatic switch to stop the fan.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide an automatic vent fan switch that will turn on and ofi automatically. I

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic switch for usage in bathroom commodes. The automatic on and off switch will operate the fan and carry the fumes or smell out when one has left the bathroom, then the on and off switch will turn off the vent fan.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic switch that will be unnoticed at all times in the bathroom.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic vent fan switch which will be particularly advantageous in bathrooms used by young children or elderly people.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic on and off switch that will take up a minimum amount of space and which can be assembled inside all flush tanks for bathroo'rns.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an automatic switch that can be manufactured at low cost and operate automatically and be enjoyed by thousands that use bathrooms.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic switch adaptable for use directly with a 6-amp fan motor, or with a larger fan motor through relays Another object of this invention is to provide a switch device, for use in combination with a vent fan, which will automatically keep the bathroom air clean and fresh.

Further objects, advantages and uses of this invention will no doubt come to mind as the following specifications and its appended claims are read in connection with an examination of the annexed drawings.

2 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the switch device made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the switch device disclosed in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevation, with parts shown in sectional elevation, taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, and showing the switch device mounted in a flush tank, with the near wall broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Directing one's attention to the drawings, the fan switch device 10, made in accordance with this invention, includes an elongated, metal, mounting bracket 11 of a length slight greater than the width of the flush tank 12 in which the switch device 10 is adapted to be mounted. The end portions 13' of the bracket 11 are flat so that they may rest flush upon the top edges of the opposed front and rear walls of a conventional flush tank 12. Depending from opposite sides of the bracket 11 are a pair of spacer bars or flanges 14, each of which span substantially the entire distance between the inner surfaces of the opposed front and rear walls of the flush tank 12. Spacer bars 14 prevent longitudinal shifting of the mounting bracket 1 1 while supported upon the walls of the flush tank 12.

As best viewed in FIGS. I and 2, a switch housing 15 made of a solid insulating material is fixed beneath the left end portion of the bracket 11 by any convenient fastening means, such as the screws 16. Located between the top of the switch housing 15 and the bottom surface of the bracket 11, and also receiving the screws 16, is a gasket 17 made of electrical insulating material.

Formed within the switch housing 15 is an upper switch chamber 18. Extending vertically through the center of the switch housing 15 is a hole 19 of uniform cross section communicating with the switch chamber 18 and opening through the bottom of the housing 15. Received through the hole 19 for vertical reciprocal movement is an elongated rod in the form of a metal tube 20. Fixed on the bottom portion of the tube 20 is a float 21. Fitted within and closing the top end portion of the tube 20 is an elongated, insulated, plastic insert 22. Secured in the top end of the plastic insert 22 by a pin 23 above the top edge of the tube 20 is an electrical switch element in the form of a copper disk 24.

Extending transversely through the switch chamber 18 and on opposite sides of the hole 19 are a pair of stationary electrical terminals 25, in the form of horizontal parallel rods or wires, between the copper disk 24 and the bottom of the switch chamber 18. The terminals 25 are connected, at one end, by soldering or otherwise, to the flexible conductor wires in the electrical cable 27. The cable 27 is connected to a conventional vent fan, not shown. The free ends of the terminal wires 18 are received in corresponding mating holes in the side of the switch chamber 18.

Access to the switch chamber 18 may be afforded by a housing cover 28 secured to the switch housing 18 by fasteners, such as screws 29.

Fixed to the rod 20 is an annular seal, such as Batter Sorber seal 30. The position of the seal 30 is such that it will rest in sealing engagement flush against the bottom of the switch housing 15, when the disk 24 is in its extreme raised position, disengaged from the terminals 25. As a matter of fact, the seal 30 limits the upper position, of not only the float 21, but also the conductor disk 24. In this manner, when water in the flush tank 12 rises above the bottom of the switch housing 15, it will not seep upward within the hole 19. As the water level descends substantially below the switch housing 15, then the float 2l'will also fall to lower the rod 20, seal 30 and switch disk 24.

The switch chamber 18 and rod hole 19 are preferably formed by boring the hole 19, and counter-boring the cylindrical switch chamber 18 of a different diameter sufiicient to receive the copper disk 24 for limited vertical reciprocal movement.

The rod 20 is preferably in the form of a metal tube, the bottom end of which is tapered to close the interior of the tube. The plastic insert 22 closes the top end of the tube 20 to make it hollow. Thus, this hollow construction of the tube 20 not only makes it light, but also makes it buoyant.

The switch housing 15 may be made of any convenient electrical insulating material, such as phenolic, or hard brown plastic treated," and should also be dimensionally stable, so that it will not cause the hole 19 to shrink and bind the movement of the rod 20. Of course, the housing cover 28 should be made of the same material as the housing 15.

In the operation of the invention, the switch device is mounted within any conventional flush tank 12 of a toilet. The bracket 11 spans the top of the tank 12, so that the flat end portions 30 will rest upon the top edges of the opposite sidewalls, and the depending spacer flanges 14 will span the distance between the inner surfaces of the opposed walls, in order to stabilize the mounting bracket 11. The conductor cable 27 is then led over the top edge of the flush tank wall and connected to the conventional vent fan, mounted in the ceiling, wall or any other convenient location within the bathroom. Because of the flat end portions 13, the lid 32 of the flush tank 12 may be seated on top of the flush tank 12 almost in its normal position, separated from the top edges of the walls of the flush tank 12 only by the thickness of the end portions of the bracket 1 1.

In its normal, inoperative position, with the water level in the tank 12 elevated, the buoyant float 21 will urge the rod 20 upward to fit the seal 30 against the bottom of the switch housing 15, and to raise the conductor disk 24 above, and electrically disengaged from, the terminal wires 25. Accordingly, the vent fan will be turned off.

After the tank 12 is flushed, and the water descends to a predetermined level, continued descent of the water line will cause the float 21 to fall, pulling down the rod 20 and the copper disk 24, until it electrically engages the terminals 25 to close the circuit through the cable 27 and turn on the vent fan. The fan continues to operate until the water level again rises to a position to elevate the switch disk 24 above and disengaged from the terminals 25 to open the circuit to the vent fan.

What I now claim as new and desire to secure a Letter Patent is:

1. An automatic switch device for a vent fan adapted to be mounted in a flush tank of a toilet, comprising:

a. a switch housing having an upper switch chamber,

b. a vertical hole in said switch housing communicating with said switch chamber and opening through the bottom of said housing,

c. a switch tenninal in said chamber,

d. a rod received through said hole for vertical reciprocal movement,

e. a float on the lower portion of said rod beneath said housing,

f. a switch element fixed to the top of said rod within said chamber for vertical movement toward and away from electrical engagement with said terminal,

. an electrical conductor connected to said terminal for connection to an electric vent fan,

. an elongated bracket fixed on the top of said housing, and

. said bracket having opposite end portions adapted to engage the top edges of opposite walls of a flush tank so that said housing is within said flush tank and said float is in operative engagement with the water in said flush tank to cause said switch element to engage and disengage said terminal as the water level changes.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said end portions are flat and further comprising at least one elongated spacer bar on said bracket spanning the distance between the interior surfaces of said opposite walls.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said rod is a hollow tube, an insulator plug in the upper end of said tube, said switch element being fixed to the top of said plug and spaced from said tube.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which the bottom end of said tube is closed.

5. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising an annular seal fixed to said rod so that said seal engages the bottom of said housing when said switch element is in its extreme raised position disengaged from said terminal, and said seal is spaced below the bottom of said housing when said switch element is below said extreme raised position. 

1. An automatic switch device for a vent fan adapted to be mounted in a flush tank of a toilet, comprising: a. a switch housing having an upper switch chamber, b. a vertical hole in said switch housing communicating with said switch chamber and opening through the bottom of said housing, c. a switch terminal in said chamber, d. a rod received through said holE for vertical reciprocal movement, e. a float on the lower portion of said rod beneath said housing, f. a switch element fixed to the top of said rod within said chamber for vertical movement toward and away from electrical engagement with said terminal, g. an electrical conductor connected to said terminal for connection to an electric vent fan, h. an elongated bracket fixed on the top of said housing, and i. said bracket having opposite end portions adapted to engage the top edges of opposite walls of a flush tank so that said housing is within said flush tank and said float is in operative engagement with the water in said flush tank to cause said switch element to engage and disengage said terminal as the water level changes.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said end portions are flat and further comprising at least one elongated spacer bar on said bracket spanning the distance between the interior surfaces of said opposite walls.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said rod is a hollow tube, an insulator plug in the upper end of said tube, said switch element being fixed to the top of said plug and spaced from said tube.
 4. The invention according to claim 3 in which the bottom end of said tube is closed.
 5. The invention according to claim 1 further comprising an annular seal fixed to said rod so that said seal engages the bottom of said housing when said switch element is in its extreme raised position disengaged from said terminal, and said seal is spaced below the bottom of said housing when said switch element is below said extreme raised position. 